Not all taxi drivers are playing it safe, Tshwane Taxi Industry admits
Commuters are urged to report any misconduct and non-compliance of drivers immediately by using their registration of the vehicle and the route operated.
The Tshwane taxi industry have admitted that not all taxi drivers were constantly adhering to safety measures of opening windows and constant sanitisation to ensure safety to commuters.
Santaco Tshwane regional spokesperson Mack Makata said: “We visit our ranks unannounced sometimes and I must admit that it’s not all of the drivers that are heeding the safety measures call as prescribed”.
Makata said this was something they were working to enforce in the Tshwane metro, where taxis operated.
“We are working on it. From the main ranks there’s 100% compliance as compared to informal ones,” he said.
He said the taxi industry in Tshwane did not necessarily welcome the decision to load at 100% capacity for trips, however, the industry was very hard hit financially due to lockdown regulations.
“It’s not about welcoming the permission to load 100% loading capacity, it’s about what is rightfully ours as the industry has no financial support forthcoming.
ALSO READ: Tshwane taxi operators in talks over load capacity
“Business has been negatively affected by the 70% loading capacity regulation, we barely keep our heads above water as financial institutions want their money,” said Makata.
He said just because the industry was loading at 100%, did not mean that the safety of drivers, marshals and commuters was not a concern.
“Of course, we are concerned about the safety of the commuters including all the stakeholders, but remember we are running a business that has been compliant throughout without any assistance from government.”
Makata also admitted that taxis could play a part in the transmission of Covid-19, however, the virus was “so scientific that it confuses everyone, one moment we are told it’s not airborne and the next moment you hear something else, so it’s matter of the fear of the unknown in most cases”.
He urged commuters to report any misconduct and non-compliance of drivers immediately.
“All we need is the registration of the vehicle and the route operated.”
Makata said commuters also had to wear a mask everywhere at taxi ranks and inside taxis.
ALSO READ: Gauteng gears up for no more cash in taxis
“Also ensure you are sanitised,” he said.
This also comes as the Gauteng transport department launched taxi rank Covid-19 support committees and reporting tools to ensure compliance at Bosman taxi rank.
The committees in various provinces will tackle various taxi ranks nationwide.
Gauteng MEC for Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure Jacob Mamabolo said the taxi rank Covid-19 support committees were there to ensure full compliance with public transport regulations in order to curb the spread of the virus.
“The taxi ranks support committees will be tasked with, among others, the enforcement of regulations including social distancing, cleaning and disinfecting of loading bays and taxis, sanitisation of all commuters and ensuring that no one gets into a taxi without a mask.”
He reiterated that without a mask, no commuter was to commute on any taxi.
Mamabolo said the Department of Roads and Transport, in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), would further unveil an application, which would assist with Covid-19 compliance reporting.
“The app will assist taxi rank managers and marshals to report daily the number of vehicles disinfected, the number of passengers sanitised, indicate whether the loading capacity was complied with as well as report if all passenger were wearing masks.
“The system further allows for regional coordinators to indicate if they have enough stock of sanitisers and disinfectants chemicals.”
Mamabolo said the information would be sent to the department immediately in real time, when an event was logged on the system.
Department of transport minister Fikile Mbalula said the taxi industry was also in intense discussions with the taxi industry on the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the significant losses the industry continued to incur.
“We engaged with the taxi industry leadership in good faith and we found each other on many areas, but there are areas where we differed. However, the door remains open for further engagements on issues where we are not in agreement.
“We have also held productive engagements with the Banking Association South Africa on further relief measures they can extend to the taxi industry. We are happy to indicate that the banks have been responsive to our proposals to provide appropriate financial relief. Individual banks have their own procedures and measures in place and will make appropriate pronouncements in this regard.”
Mbalula said various banks had offered repayment holidays and re-determination of the terms of agreement with individual borrowers.
This comes as President Ramaphosa announced that taxis undertaking local trips would be permitted to increase their capacity to 100%, while long distance taxis will not be allowed to exceed 70% occupancy, on condition that new risk mitigation protocols related to masks, vehicle sanitising and open windows were followed.
Buses, taxis and e-hailing vehicles, meter taxis, shuttle services, chauffeur-driven vehicles and scholar transport vehicles are permitted to carry 100% of licensed carry capacity for any trip not regarded as long-distance travel.
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